Headshots vs promotional portraits

What a headshot needs to do

A headshot is usually direct, recognisable and flexible. It should show the person clearly and work across profiles, casting pages, staff pages or press listings.

What a promotional portrait needs to do

Promotional portraits can carry more context: location, styling, props, colour, story and visual identity. They are often used for campaigns, announcements, posters and social assets.

How the shoot plan changes

A headshot session can be compact and focused. A promotional session may need more time, location planning, lighting variation and a stronger creative direction.

Think about the full set of uses

Artists and performers often need both: a clean headshot for identification and more expressive promotional images for selling the work.

Choose based on the immediate job

If the image needs to identify you, start with a headshot. If it needs to sell a show, release, campaign or character, plan promotional portraits.